About Forterra

Forterra is a leading provider of autonomous systems for ground-based movement in the working world. Amongst some of the earliest innovators in the field of driverless technology, Forterra is focused on building systems that protect front-line soldiers and enable civilian workers in our industrial base. Forterra is the go-to provider of ground autonomy solutions for the U.S. Department of Defense, which harnesses the technology for asymmetric warfare in critical conditions.

About the role

Forterra’s Command, Control, & Communications team develops and maintains both our user interface software (TerraLink) as well as the messaging, vehicle-side software, and networking layer for our ground autonomous vehicles. We’re looking for an experienced and driven software engineer that specializes in communication networks over contested ad-hoc wireless links, ready to develop the next generation software stack that will enable modern military communication. 

What you'll do

• Build on existing open solutions and knowledge to create and maintain a bespoke mesh network solution for the modern battlefield. 
• Develop simulation frameworks for optimizing network reliability and throughput. 
• Write tools to help debug and get insights from simulated and in-situ networks. 
• Work with a team of developers to design, implement, and maintain Forterra’s custom ad-hoc SD-WAN solution. 
• Support the development and documentation of CI/CD. 
• Enable and embody a culture of software quality and reliability in a scaled production focused environment. 

Minimum Qualifications

Mission-First Mindset - We put the needs of the mission and our customers first and understand that the US and its allies have no preordained right to victory in any future conflict.  

Ownership Mentality - We’re looking for owners; those who have a natural bias to assume responsibility, a healthy dose of skepticism, and contribute to a culture of performance.  

Technical Aptitude and Intellectual Curiosity - We are first and foremost a technology company, working at the leading edge of capabilities like machine learning, autonomy, distributed networking, and multi-modal sensor fusion. 

Structured Thinker and Problem Solver - Leading technical programs requires clear communication and well-thought-out plans. A solution-driven approach, the ability to distill complexity into its essential, digestible components, and the ability to supervise execution are critical to ensure mission success. 

360 Degree Leader - We are a non-hierarchical organization with a matrix structure that is dynamic and evolving. We expect you to be self-aware enough to recognize your position of unstated leadership within the company. You should have a demonstrated ability to lead and influence people through both formal and informal constructs and in situations where there is lack of clarity across teams. 

• 7+ years of software engineering experience. 
• Strong Linux development environment experience. 
• Technical Leadership capabilities 
• Candidate should be a self-motivated, flexible team player with good written and oral skills, able to work effectively in a fast-paced environment. 
• Successful team members will aggressively reduce risk, understand and focus on value in an agile environment, and be willing to proactively solve problems and take on gaps to push the product forward with high quality and impact to our customers. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge in theoretical and applied RF.
• Knowledge of the TCP/IP stack. 
• Familiarity with different wireless communication systems (Satcom, WiFi, Cellular, etc.). 
• Experience with distributed systems. 
• Experience with ad-hoc communication routing technology (MANET, Mesh, etc.). 
• Experience with test driven development in continuously integrated environments. 
• Experience developing in automotive environments or in tactical defense environments. 
• Experience developing with Python, C++. 
• Experience with Conan package manager, CMake build tools, and Git SCM.

US Salary Range
 $180,000 - $220,000

Location

On-Site in Palo Alto, CA 

10-15% Travel Required

The salary range for this role is an estimate and is based on a wide variety of compensation factors. The salary offered to candidates will vary based on a variety of factors including (but not limited to) relevant work experience, education, specialized training, critical expertise, training, and more. Equity in Forterra is included in most of our full-time, high-demand roles and is therefore considered part of Forterra’s overall compensation package. In addition to base salary and equity, Forterra offers competitive benefits for full-time employees including:

• Premium Healthcare Benefits: Three plan options, including an HSA-eligible plan, with Forterra covering 80% of the plan premium for you and your dependents.  
• Basic Life/AD&D, short and long-term disability insurance plans 100% covered by Forterra, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents.
• Extremely generous company holiday calendar including a winter break in December.
• Competitive paid time off (PTO) offering 20 days accrued per year.
• A minimum of 7 weeks fully paid parental leave for birth/adoption. 
• A $9k annual tuition reimbursement or professional development stipend.
• Fully stocked beverage refrigerators with all the Celsius your little heart desires. 
• 401(k) retirement savings plan, including traditional, Roth 401(k), and after-tax deferral with company match up to 4%.

Your recruiter will be able to share more information about our salary and benefits offering during the hiring process.  

Forterra is an equal-opportunity employer, providing and promoting equal employment opportunity in accordance with local, state, and federal laws. Forterrans are unique, talented individuals who are united through a shared passion to deliver autonomous systems that enable national resilience and a robust supply chain. All qualified applications will receive equal consideration for employment.